Ghorepani Ghandruk Loop trek is a short trek that is suitable for anyone with a fair degree of fitness but limited time. It offers a splendid introduction to the dramatic scenery of the Annapurna region in central Nepal. It can be offered at any time of the year and as it reaches an altitude of just 3210m. In this trek to Poon hill there is no chance of altitude-related problems.

This Ghorepani Ghandruk circuit trek begins and ends in the central city of Pokhara which is a 25m flight or 6-7hr bus ride from Kathmandu. A spectacular 1½hr journey over the middle hills takes you to Nayapul for the start of the trek. The first day is fairly easy, taking you through bamboo forests and terraced farmland. The second day is longer and a bit more strenuous as you climb through dense forests of rhododendron, oak and maple to the prosperous village of Ghorepani.

Ghorepani Ghandruk trekking day three walk begins with a short stiff climb up Poon Hill for 360o sunrise views of the Annapurna Range and the southern plains towards India. After breakfast, the trek to Ghandruk continues to offer views of the high peaks from ridge-villages and has particularly good views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and sacred Machhapuchhare from Ghandruk village.

This region is inhabited by Gurungs and Magars; people of Tibetan origin now involved in agriculture with the latter also skilled craftsmen in stone and wood. They are friendly people who will welcome you warmly into their tea houses and shops. Be warned: this short trek is unlikely to satisfy your enjoyment of this magnificent corner of the world – you are bound to return for longer treks in the future!

Spring (March - May) and Autumn (September- November) are the most popular seasons for trekking in the Annapurna region, but we offer this trek throughout the year. All you need is a good pair of walking sport shoes, a day pack, warm clothing, sleeping bag and camera. Our Ghorepani Poon Hill loop trekking includes transport, accommodation, meals, drinking water and hot shower.

After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing tours to world heritage sites of Pashupatinath Temple-the holiest Hindu Temple on the bank of sacred Bagmati River, Bodhanath Stupa-the biggest Buddhist Stupa architecture in the world! Patan Durbar Square is the oldest city in the Kathmandu valley with age old tradition also called Lalitpur-the city of fine arts. The visit covers the Durbar Square, the Krishna temple, the Kumbheswore temple, the Golden temple and many more. Swayambhunath Stupa-the 2000 years old legendary stupa on the hillock also nick-named as monkey temple. Your day tour ends Kathmandu Durbar Square Showcasing living goddess Kumari Temple, Nautale Durbar, the Kaal Bhairav, the Swet Bhairav, the freak Street and more.

Overnight in Kathmandu at Boutique Hotel with breakfast

Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu - Pokhara (910m/2,986ft), 5-6 hrs drive

Early morning after breakfast, drive by private car to Pokhara through the beautiful countryside and following down steam of Trishuli River. ( famous river rafting for traveling with family & beginners) Arrive Pokhara aand check in Hotel. Free Afternoon.

After breakfast, drive along the zigzag route to Nayapul where we commence our trek to Birethanti, a large and prosperous riverside village at the confluence of the Modi and Bhurungdi Kholas (streams). We hike up to Sudame along the off road and then climb gradually up the side of the valley, Tikhedhunga.

Cross suspension metal bridge and steep ascent on stone staircases to the village of Ulleri – and an amazing landscape of valley floor where we came during the day with marvelous views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

Overnight in Ulleri at Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 05: Ulleri - Ghorepani (2,850m/9,350ft), 5-6 hrs, ~11km

After breakfast, our pleasant trekking begins through rhododendron and oak forests. The scenery will give you the energy to continue up the steps as you immerse yourself in the walk. After a few hours and with several breaks we reach Ghorepani. Upper Ghorepani (Deurali) where we stay in this trip, offers fantastic views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Himalayas.

An early morning start for 45 minutes hike up to Poon hill (3210m/10530ft), the route offers the glimpse of the pleasant rhododendron forest. This brilliant viewpoint provides us an unobstructed sunrise over the high Himalayas and the wide range of panoramic scenery from the far western Himalaya of Dolpo, Mt. Dhaulagiri, and wised range of Annapurna Himalayas including Mt. Machhapuchre (Fish Tail) and all the way to Manasalu. After a great time in Poon Hill, trek back to Ghorepani, breakfast and continue trek to Tadapani through thick pine and rhododendron forest with occasionally flat, more ascends and descends along the ridge. We countinue pleasant walking day through the forested and downhill path most of the way with occasional view of the Mountain leads us through the gradual path most of the trail to Ghandrung village for overnight stop. This is heavily settled Gurung village, a modern sample clean and modern village of Nepal and explore the surrounding area, visit typical museum and simply relax at the hotel.

Overnight in Ghandruk at Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 07: Ghandruk - Pokhara (910m/2,986ft), 5 hrs walk & 1 hrs drive

This is our last day walk through the scenic landscapes and local villages to get down to the Syalui bazzar settled in river bank of Modi River. The walk is moderately flat most of the way following down stream of Modi River until Birethanthi and an easy trek to Nayapul. Our adventure ends here and we drive back to Pokhara,

Overnight in Pokhara at 2 star Hotel with breakfast
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 08: Pokhara - Kathmandu (1300m 4364ft), 5-6 hrs drive

Morning after breakfast, drive back to Kathmandu by private car is best described as 'exhilarating' and winds through sub-tropical scenery for 4-5 hrs. Arrive Kathmandu and check in you hotel. Free afternoon.

All necessary paper work and permits(Annapurna Conservation permit, TIMS )

A comprehensive medical kit

All government and local taxes

Trekking equipment such as down filled sleeping bag, walking poles and duffel bag

Cost Exclusive :

Bottle drinks

City monument fees

Personal expenses

Lunch & Dinner in Kathmandu & Pokhara

Electronic device recharge

Hotel shower

Boiled water

Travel insurance & evacuation

Tipping

Trip Information Section

Meals

Eating is a big part of Holiday. Travelling with Mountain Mart Trek, you experience the vast array of wonderful food Nepalese, Chinese, Continental, Italian and several local cuisines. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are included in the package. Your guide will suggest delicious, hygienic and each place special food during your trip. Mountain restaurant owner prefer not to order many dishes and waste food as they would like to cater more trekkers with limited food before run off stuck. Its a week or more days hard work to porters and caravans to bring food to these places. During this trek you will usually have breakfast and dinner at the same Lodge, lunch will be eaten at one of the trail side restaurants en-route.

Accommodation

A Tea House is the combination of guest house, restaurant, and social hang out. Private rooms are available in most Tea Houses, except for high altitudes ones where it will be just dormitories. The lodges are fairly basic. The rooms are spare with twin beds and very little additional furniture. Blankets are generally provided. There is a large dining room-cum-lounge, warmed by the bukhara stove (an iron cylinder, fitted with a chimney duct, in which a log fire is lighted. There is normally no electric lighting in the rooms unless the village has hydroelectric power. The dining room usually hassolar lighting.
Most teahouses now also have electricity for charging small appliances - mobile phones and cameras - and there may be a small charge for this.

Drinking water:

Mountain Mart Trek provides unlimited chlorine/Iodine treated water during the trek. All tea houses have mineral water and boiled water for trekkers upon additional cost. We discourage the purchase of Mineral water and bottled water while on the Trek as plastic bottles aredifficult to dispose off and have become an environmental problem

Route Map

Mountain Mart Trek offers you complementary route map and T-shirt

What to take

This is a very active trip, meaning you will be on the move most of the time, so pack as lightly as possible. We provide one porter for every two travellers; your trekking gear will be carried by the porter in a duffel bag that we will provide. The maximum the porters are allowed to carry 15 kgs per trekker means 30 kgs from 2 trekkers . Unnecessary luggage can left in Kathmandu Hotel and its absolutely free of cost. .

Important to note:

Please read the Checklist section of this trip notes for additional details of what you need to bring for the trek on this trip. You will need to bring a comfortable medium sized day pack to carry the things that you will need during the day. This should have a waist strap or (better) a padded waist belt. The weather is subject to change in high altitude so layered clothing is recommended throughout the year.

Why Travel with Us?

Our outdoor staffs are fully insured and well equipped. MMT offers attractive salary packages to guides, porters and other trekking staffs. We also pay sustainable salaries/wages during low season when no work is available. Our porters may carry a maximum mass of 30 kilograms.

We have extensive logistical experience in both individual and group tour operations. We customize your holdiay as per requirment and always endeavour to meet ultimate expetation. MMT tour operaters are professionalize in Nepal trekking, high adventure passes, climbing and mountaineering, cultural tours, white water rafting and many more.

Safety and trip comfort are no compromises and top priorities of the company inclusively to both clients and trekking crews. Our trekking leaders are pharmacy trained and have considerable knowledge on AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) from different training workshops conducted by HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association), KEEP (Kathmandu Education Invironment Project) and TAAN (Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal) . We believe health is wealth: Guides and porters are fully insured and sufficient trekking gear is supplied by MMT. Emergency First Aid Kits are carried by trek leaders for health support for clients and trekking staff. We are constantly in communication with our trek leaders about weather issues which might influence trips.

We are an independent ultimate outdoor adventure team, based in Nepal, who explore and experience the unspoiled flora, fauna and landscapes of the towering Himalayas as well as the treasures of myth and legend of Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. Mountain Mart Treks offers a splendid alternative solution for adventure, fun, research, and eco tourism to these South Asian countries. We believe each our happy client is our next trek.

Mountain Mart Trek has numerous fixed departures trekking tours to match several travelers. Besides, we also offer customize guaranteed departure dates upon your advice and make happen comfortably. MMT will organize treks for groups with specific interests and will adjust itineraries for groups with age-specific requirements. Group sizes can range from a single trekker up to a maximum of 10 people

Our trekking team has more than 20 years route experiences in remote adventure, peak climbing, expeditions, culture and nature research, whatever your condition we will help you to achieve your final goal. We believe in adventure beyond the fun. We are more specialized in unbeaten and unspoiled nature finder trekking operator..

Our prices are extremely competitive and our service will touch your feelings. We have a good business relationship with domestic and international airlines, hotels and resorts and are the sole agents for several treks and tours. We guarantee fair prices and top class unexpected Services.We offer a transparent travel service and no hidden costs will hit our clients during their trip.

MMT offers a one stop travel solution and is proud to inform our valued clients that all types of travel service, including international air bookings, visa services for India, Tibet, Bhutan, and China are on offer. Apart from trekking, we are the sole agents for mountain climbing expeditions, white water rafting, wildlife safaris, cultural tours, bird watching tours as well as budget and group tours to Tibet and Bhutan

Frequently Asked Questions Section

Do I get Nepal Visa on arrival?

Foreigners other than Indian citizen, who intend to visit Nepal must hold a valid passport prior to apply for a Nepal visa. The passport must have six months validity from the date of arrival. Travelers can obtain a Nepalese visa upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, or at a border immigration office. One recent copy of a passport size color photo is required to apply for Tourist Visa to Nepal.

Visa Fees:

The fees payable only in USD dollars for obtaining a visa on arrival at any border are as follows:

A Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 15 days: US$ 25 payable only in USD dollars.

A Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 30 days: US$ 40 payable only in USD dollars

A Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 90 days: US$ 100 payable only in USD dollars

Will somebody meet me at the Airport upon my arrival?

Yes, our Airport
Representative will be there to greet you outside the Terminal Hall (after you
have completed passport, immigration and visa requirements) He will be
displaying our Mountain Mart Treks & Expedition logo with your name on it.
You will then be transferred to your hotel.

What sort of transportation do you use?

Mountain Mart Treks &
Expeditions is all about providing you with local insights as well as
adventure. With that in mind, we use a mixture of local buses and taxis,
private mini buses for city sightseeing and airport pickups and sometimes land
cruisers for journeys into the mountains, to and from trekking points. The
choice of vehicle will also depend on the size of your group. See the “Price
Includes” section for your trek’s options. All vehicles are maneuverable and
flexible enabling us to take you through the narrow roads of Nepal. We carefully omit to talk about he crazy,
exciting, heart thumping driving that whips you from place to place.

Should you have special transport
requests, please contact us.

What sort of accommodation can I expect in Kathmandu and while
trekking?

We use standard rooms, as
per our “Price Includes” section, in Kathmandu. We serve you lodge double room
available in the route in sharing basis. This service provide as per trekking
plan you purchased with us. Lodges are mostly in village, which allows you to
buy sweets and drinks, which we do not carry with us. For Tea House (lodge)
trekking you will get a double room, on shared basis, as per your trekking
plan.

How fit do I need to be and is trekking for me?

Most treks are suitable for anyone who is moderately fit. No previous experience is required. To condition yourself for trekking, some physical fitness programs such as regular walking, running, swimming, and hiking are recommended before you embark on your journey. Any person suffering from a pre-existing medical condition or diseases must seek medical advice before considering a trek. Whilst on a trek, it is common to experience some discomfort before you become fully acclimatized to altitude.

What sort of food can I expect when trekking?

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
each day, as per itinerary, is included.
If you have any special dietary requirements please inform us
beforehand.

What opportunities will I have to shower on the trek?

Hot showers will be
available in some lodges at your own expense.

Can I charge my digital camera and other batteries when trekking?

Electricity will not always
be available, especially in more remote areas. Carry a second set of charged
batteries with you – and don’t forget your adapters! Your guide will know where
you will be able to charge your batteries next.

Will there be any telephonic communication while we are on trek?

There are telephones in a few
villages along the routes from which you can make international calls. Cell
phone reception cannot be relied on in the mountains and in many regions not at
all. If required, we can supply a satellite phone service. Please inform us
should you need this service, which must be at your expense.

Can I use a credit card while trekking?

In most cities yes, to some
extent, however once you leave the cities behind, you can only use cash. Make
sure that you take sufficient Nepalese rupees for your needs in small
denominations. In some places, Dollars, Euros and Pounds will be accepted.

How much additional money do I need per day?

It all depends on your
spending habits. 15 to 20 US$ a day will be enough to buy bottles of water,
chocolates, souvenir shopping of local crafts when available and a few drinks.
You can buy these things only in certain villages.

Do I need to tip my guide and porters? How much would that be?

Tips are always expected. It
is good to tip trekking staff at the end of a trek. The standard recommendation for tipping is
for each person, in a group of 10 or more persons, to tip the guide US$ 10 per
day and each porter US$ 3 per day.
For groups of one or two persons and above USD$ 12 per day for guide and
USD$ 5 for porter is recommended.

Do I need to bring purifying tablets and filter?

Please bring a water bottle
to fill with purified water. We will provide you with purified water to each
day. So you don’t need anything unless you want to bring your own water
purifier (If so, please inform us beforehand). You can also buy mineral water
in some villages along the trail.

Where do I store my unnecessary trekking stuff and how much does it cost?

All stuff what you have are not necessary to take to trekking as this makes your porter extra heavy and things can be lost and damaged during the trek. You can leave such stuff at your Hotel in Kathmandu or Mountain Mart Trekking store. Luggage storage facility is absolutely free of cost.

When do treks leave? How are trek dates arranged?

We plan each trek to depart
at our customer’s convenience. Usually, a day or two after you fly into
Kathmandu; spend a day or two in the capital, meeting the team, checking on all
the gear and then departing after breakfast on the prearranged day.

What essential documents do I need to carry with me on the trek?

A valid Passport – which must
be valid for at least 6 months after you return from your tour. It needs to
contain few blank pages. Bring minimum five copies of passport size photos to
issue your arrival Nepal visa (which is payable only on USD cash) and trekking
permits

Travel insurance; keep a
separate photocopy with Mountain Mart Trek and into your main baggage.

Are the MMT (Mountain Mart Treks) Agency's staff insured?

Do you use Yaks/porters on the trek or do we carry all of our own
gear?

Whilst on a trek, our
porters will take care of your luggage service as per the “Price Includes”
section. Your porter may carry a maximum of 15kg of luggage per person, in a
soft bag A porter carries two
trekkers’ bags (30kg).All you need to
carry is your small day bag with personal belongings, camera, water, sun cream
and sufficient warm and rain clothing for the day.

What weather conditions can I expect when trekking?

Weather in the Himalayas is
notoriously difficult to predict: expect the unexpected. Nights are generally
much cooler than the day. In winter (December to February) nights can be cold
while days are beautiful (and warm when the sun is out). Snow can fall at any
time of the year. Temperatures can range from 15°C to 25°C above 5000m. It is important to stay warm and dry in any
conditions – so carry sufficient gear in you pack each day.

As the leader of a large group, can I trek for free?

Yes, providing your group size meets tour agreed minimum, we include a free place for a leader, company representative and teacher.

16 participants in a group – get free trekking packages for one leader.

25 participants in a group – get free trekking package for two persons.

40 participants in a group – get free trekking packages for three persons.

How do you minimize risk to ensure a group’s safety?

The safety and well-being of our clients is our first priority. Whilst acknowledging that there are inherent risks in all travel that can never be totally eliminated, we endeavor to minimize any risks or dangers that have the potential to lead to any more than reasonable level of physical or emotional distress for our clients, staff and partners.

We aim to do this by:

Ensuring the chosen itinerary is appropriate for your group.

Seeking medical assurance from you that medical advisor prior to trekking departure to ensure all travellers are suitable for the challenge ahead

Ensuring that our guides are all first aid trained, carry a comprehensive first-aid kit and are fully competent in handling emergency evacuation procedures

Ensuring that our guides carry mobile or satellite phones: Mobile or satellite phone communication is available on most trekking routes which provide direct access to our company.

Providing a doctor to escort all school trekking groups and on request for charity challenges. Insisting that a complete risk assessment be provided prior travel and trek.

Requiring each client to complete and sign our risk assessment form prior to departure for a trek. Insisting that travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers and trekkers. Insurance documentation to be provided prior to any trek.

Can I add extra days to my trek?

A trekking holiday should
never be about making it to the final point quickly. Along the route we can add
days at your request (with additional costs to cover guides, porters,
accommodation and food if given sufficient time to make the arrangements.

I would like to extend my holiday, any recommendations?

Yes, there are many options
and choices to extend your holiday before or after your main trek. Please
browse our trip extension on home page and the following suggestions offer a
few possibilities:

Everest Flight – A one hour
early morning flight to see Mt Everest and its surrounding peaks. A ticket

includes the flight plus transfers to and from
the airport (weather permitting).

Trisuli River Rafting – A one
or two day package, including return road transport.